Because I'm TOO cheap...

...to buy this to track our number of school days:


So I made this, instead. I think it superior in so many ways, if I do say so myself.




Coffee stirrers (cut in half, mind you), rubber bands, 3 jelly jars, and some folded pieces of cardstock (oh yes, a recycled almond container for the extras). I go back and forth but I think our family will fare ok during any economic recession we might have to endure. Because I don't see a thing in the world odd, unusual or miserly about this...even during an economic boom. I've been known to get out a spatula and get EVERY LAST smidgen of lotion out of a bottle, gall darn it. (I know if you're reading this that you're chuckling at this, Colleen.) I digress..

Since I shared the "days in school tally jars" I thought I'd also share some more of our daily calendar activities.

One child is responsible for changing the "yesterday", "today", and "tomorrow" tabs. They're so easy to make (and cheap...eh excuse me, inexpensive)...again, just folded cardstock. Simply hang them over the calendar date. Oh yes...remember the plasti-tak? That's what's holding up the calendar numbers.


I eventually want to print and laminate this board instead of using the dry erase board. Anywhooo.... I usually let the other child write this information on the board and let them alternate these tasks every day. Want to know how I keep up with whose day is who's? Simple, I just look at the handwriting on the board from the day before. I started out writing this information in myself and having them copy it on those silly sheets (pre-workbox days) then I thought, "what am I doing? Let THEM own it!"

The ordinal monthly number information comes from this book that I've mentioned before.



After we're done with calendar stuff we do a daily devotional and their journal is always in the first drawer of their workboxes. We use this Carson-Delossa book that I really like.



I have the child that didn't write on the white board or rather the child that simply changed the calendar tabs (yes it's tit-for-tat in our house) find and read the bible verse in the actual Bible. I think that's important rather than just to read it from the devotional book and as my friend Jenn says - they're learning math skills while loooking up verses. I couldn't resist posting all of these pix. I just love the little story they collectively tell.







Then I write the verse on the white board and usually try to incorporate a little further journaling/drawing activity to go along with the devotional or verse read.



So that's it...our daily grind. Not so bad, I don't think.